VELASCO SETS OUT PLANS FOR VNL AND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Argentina men’s national team coach Julio Velasco set the tone today in Buenos Aires for the team’s preparation ahead of this year’s major challenges, including the inaugural FIVB Volleyball Nations League and the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship.

Velasco was speaking at a press conference today at CeNARD – the National Centre of High Performance Sports – alongside the nation’s Secretary of Sports, Carlos Javier Mac Allister.

“The main objective is undoubtedly the World Championship, but you can not deny the Volleyball Nations League is going to be a very important competition,” said the 66-year-old coach at the Press Conference.

A first group of players has already gathered at CeNARD, with more joining following the end of the country’s national league.

In addition to the VNL and the World Championship, Argentina’s obligations also inclued the South American (ODESUR) Games and the Pan American Cup.

Argentina’s preparation begins by hosting China from May 8 to 13, ahead of the VNL which begins later in the month. Argentina travel to China for friendlies on May 21 and 22 and stay on for the first weekend of the VNL, before hosting Canada, Iran and Italy in San Juan. They then go on the road again to play in France, Germany and Australia.

The finals of the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League are from July 4 to 8 in Lille.

At the same time as the VNL, Argentina will also field a separate team in the South American Games in Cochabamba, from June 2 to 8.

Argentina fans have a lot to look forward to in 2018.

Argentina will also host Cuba (July 20-25) and USA (August 7-12) for further training following the VNL and South American Games, before competing, August 12-20, in the qualifiers of the Lima 2019 Panamerican Games.

A further round of friendlies against the Netherlands on 4 and 9 September will lead Argentina to the World Championship in Italy and Bulgaria from September 9-30.

In the first phase of the year’s major event, the South Americans are in Pool A in Florence, together with Italy, Japan, Belgium, Slovenia and the Dominican Republic.